West Cornwall, England - the start of your journey towards John O'Groats. It's 874 miles to John O'Groats via the main highways but that would be boring so we're taking you on a little detour which adds a couple of hundred miles to the journey taking it to 1083 miles. Don't worry, we're sure it will be worth it.
Each postcard you unlock will contain interesting facts and descriptions about each virtual location. There are 25 in total. Share them on Facebook or Twitter to keep your friends updated with you progress. Who knows, maybe they will be as brave as you and take on the LEJOG Virtual Challenge themselves!
km od začátku : 0012
The Merry Maidens
Welcome to the Merry Maidens Frantisek.
Nineteen stone megaliths situated between Newlyn and Lands End. Close to the Tregiffian Burial Chamber, a site thought to be around 4000 years old, they almost certainly formed two important parts of a holy place, and indicate settlement in the area from that time.
As with many other stone circle monuments in the UK, some of the myths and legends surrounding the Merry Maidens are pretty gruesome. Locals will tell you that they're nineteen girls who were turned to stone for dancing on a Sunday, and that the Pipers - two stones situated north-east of the circle - were musicians who realized their error and were running back to town. Whether the tale is woven from folk memories of what used to happen here, or a later Christian attempt to make sense of the site - and impose morality - isn't known.
As with many other early attempts at restoration of prehistoric monuments, 19th century antiquarians not only added new stones, but altered the position of some of the old ones. The original spacing and placing - now restored - formed a perfect circle with even spacing; an astonishing feat of prehistoric engineering.
km od začátku : 0030
St. Michael's Mount
Welcome to St. Michael's Mount - monastery, Frantisek.
Refuge of a pretender to the throne, and arguably one of the earliest examples of town twinning in history. Gifted by Edward the Confessor to the Norman Abbey of the same name, the association continued until war with France soured relations enough for it to be plucked back four hundred years later.
One of the strangest tales in mediaeval royal history is closely connected with the island. Perkin Warbeck claimed to be Richard, Duke of York - one of the Princes in the Tower. Although there's no academic evidence to suggest Warbeck was anything other than an impostor, the resemblance to his supposed father, Edward IV, was astonishing, giving credence to contemporary speculation that he was an illegitimate son with a genuinely royal connection to the House of York.
In more recent times, and had the Second World War ended rather differently, the Nazi Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop would almost certainly have taken up residence, so taken was he with Cornwall in general, and St. Michael's Mount in particular. Gifted to the National Trust in 1954, the St. Aubyn family continue to live there, as they have done for the past 400 years, and manage public viewing of the site.
km od začátku : 0100
The Eden Project
You've arrived at The Eden Project, Frantisek!
Although the idea for the Eden Project only dates back 20 years, the clay pit it is built on was in use for a good 160 years beforehand, as well as serving as a television location site; appropriately enough, it was used as Magrathea, home of a race of planet-builders in Douglas Adams' Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, filmed for the BBC in the 1980s.
Officially opening in March 2001, The Times hailed the Project as 'the eighth wonder of the world'. The public clearly agreed, as the site had clocked up an astonishing 1,000,000 visitors by June of that year. The famous Eden Sessions started the following year, with Pulp headlining - events described by the Daily Telegraph as 'part Glyndebourne, part Glastonbury'.
With installations in recent years of a Treetop Walkway and visitor accommodation, the Eden Project continues to grow and develop. If you're inspired to learn more about how they do what they do, you can even study to degree-level onsite.
km od začátku : 0152
Plymouth
Welcome to Plymouth Hoe, Frantisek.
That might sound like an outdated piece of farm equipment, but if you're interested in eighteenth century working buildings, Smeaton's Tower is a must-see. Construction began in 1757, and the 24 candles which warned oncoming sea traffic of the dangerous Eddystone Reef - rocks so dangerous that sailing via the Channel Islands or even the French coast was seen as preferable to a possible collision - were lit for the first time in October 1759. No ordinary candles, these were monsters that weighed anything up to 2.3 kilos, and needed chiming clocks beside them to remind the lighthouse keeper of the need to replace them.
The sea had other ideas, and by the mid 1800s had started to erode the ground around the lighthouse - in fact, it would shake every time a big wave hit. The upper two thirds of the building were removed and relocated to their current location at Plymouth Hoe, where it currently not only offers amazing views of the surrounding area, but is available for hire as a venue for civil wedding ceremonies.
Just proving that the Yorkshire-born designer, John Smeaton, built things to last, the stump of the old lighthouse can still be seen out on the Eddystone Reef.
km od začátku : 0357
Durdle Door
Congratulations on making it to Man O War Bay.
For fans of Jurassic coastlines, the open chalk coves of this part of Dorset are a draw for lovers of beautiful British beaches and amateur and professional geologists alike. Durdle Door itself even has some unlikely cousins; when the African and European tectonic plates collided some 25 million years ago, the same event created the Alps as well as this strange limestone structure.
Part of the Lulworth Estate, the arch itself is actually privately-owned, but the shingle beach is open to the public via a footpath over the hill from Lulworth Cove. The locals will also refer to the area as Man O War Bay, although you won't find this on the Ordnance Survey Map - the official name is St. Oswald's Bay - the area is particularly popular with snorkelers and swimmers, although it's worth being aware that a speed boat regularly brings in visitors from Lulworth Cove; a bright swimming hat is a must, Frantisek!
km od začátku : 0395
Bournemouth
Welcome to Bournemouth Frantisek, home of golden beaches and quiet refinement.
Or is it? You might think that Bournemouth has its roots in late Georgian gentility, but before Lewis Tregonwell founded it as a health resort in 1810, it was a hive of activity for smugglers.
The Victorian architecture is notable, including three Grade I listed churches, with theatres and two art deco cinemas joining the holiday accommodation in the early twentieth century.
Bournemouth's architecture is not without controversy - the locally-loathed Waterfront Complex gained the sobriquet 'Most Hated Building in England', and was demolished in 2013 as part of a television programme.
Thriving nightlife and frequent festivals covering art and music help to give Bournemouth a year-round holiday feel.
km od začátku : 0444
Salisbury
You have arrived in Salisbury Frantisek, one of the most history-rich towns in England.
Long before the Romans arrived and settled in Sorviodunum, the various old-English names combined with archaeological finds implied settlement as early as Neolithic times, over 3000 years ago.
Invasions and loyalties read like a roll-call of conquering armies - after the Romans, the Saxons took over, falling to the King of Wessex in the 6th century. The Vikings had a try at occupation, but King Alfred (he of the burnt cakes) restored fortifications, and Salisbury - or Sarum as it was then - was safe until the spectacularly-named Sweyn Forkbeard sacked and burned the town in 1003.
The town shifted location a little in the early 13th century, moving to its present site - construction on the cathedral began, and the market (still held every Tuesday and Saturday) was given its charter. Salisbury was - and remains - an important centre for the arts, with Handel's great friend, James Harris, directing concerts in the Assembly Rooms in the 18th century.
km od začátku : 0460
Stonehenge
You've made it to Stonehenge, Frantisek, one of the most instantly recognisable sites on your journey.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Stonehenge was actually constructed in several stages, the first around 5000 years ago. The earliest part of the monument itself was connected with burial of the dead, as evidence of cremation has been found around the Sarsen stones. However, although not part of the monument itself, there is evidence of an even older site of ritual significance nearby - four or five pine posts had been erected in an East-West alignment and left to rot; these are a staggering 10,000 or so years old.
There's also evidence of wooden structures being part of Stonehenge throughout the 2000 or so years that construction and possibly even change of use continued - what is perhaps most remarkable is the great distances the stones were brought to the site from; the Marlborough Downs forty or so kilometres to the north is far enough away, but the famous bluestones could only have come from the Preseli Hills in Wales; six times the distance from Stonehenge.
No one knows what Stonehenge was for; it was probably equal parts ritual site, shrine, and burial ground. Since a significant number of burials either suffered deformity or injury, it probably also served as a place of healing. They also travelled a long way to get here - scientific analysis of remains indicates origins in France, Germany, and even the Southern Mediterranean. It would appear that Stonehenge's worldwide fame is nothing new.
Don't take root like one of the standing stones, Frantisek - you're doing a great job!
km od začátku : 0572
Oxford
You may be feeling more scholarly now you've arrived at Oxford University, Frantisek - did you know it's the second-oldest surviving university in the world?
Although we don't know the exact date of foundation, records exist as far back as 1096, meaning that Bologna University in Italy officially beats Oxford to title of 'oldest' by a mere eight years. Not to be outdone, Oxford scholars insist that there are documents proving that teaching began in Oxford as early as 825, but these have never seen the light of day.
If further proof were needed that academics like a squabble - either amongst themselves, or in famous town and gown disputes - Cambridge was founded after a bust up between some scholars and the locals in 1209, forcing them to move north-east. Oxford still don't let Cambridge forget that they were there first.
Unlike modern university campuses, Oxford is a series of 38 independent colleges, each self-governing and with their own rules and activities. Although seen as prime examples of male privilege, the late Victorian period saw the foundation of two all-female colleges, and by the middle of the First World War, women were completing medical training at Oxford on an equal footing with their male counterparts. Famous - and infamous - alumni include Sir Walter Raleigh (who left without completing his degree), and most British Prime Ministers of the last hundred years or so.
Time to put down your books and get your running shoes back on, Frantisek - you can do it!
km od začátku : 0649
Stratford upon Avon
You're walking the same streets as William Shakespeare, Frantisek.
There's much more to Stratford upon Avon than Shakespeare, however - with Anglo-Saxon origins, the town was already a thriving population centre by the time the market charters were granted in 1196.
Shakespeare's house itself is still there in Henley Street. Bought by his father in 1556, the bard was born there eight years later, and Shakespeare descendants continued to live there for over a hundred years until his granddaughter, Elizabeth Barnard died in 1670. She left the cottage to Shakespeare's great-nephew, Thomas Hart, and the property remained in the wider family.
Unusually for Victorian renovations of historical monuments, Edward Gibbs' restoration took the house closer to its original Tudor structure than it had been for some time. Today, it's next door to the Shakespeare Centre, which opened in 1964.
Theatres and Stratford go back a long way too - celebrated 18th century actor David Garrick built a wooden structure for a Shakespeare Jubilee in 1769, not far from where the modern-day RSC Theatre stands now. Together with The Swan, built on an Elizabethan theatre model, and The Other Place, Stratford has some of the finest acting spaces in the UK.
km od začátku : 0679
Coventry
Welcome to Coventry, Frantisek.
You could be forgiven for thinking that you've arrived in a new town from the architecture around you, but the Coventry Blitz of November 1940 did for most of the old buildings, including the beautiful 14th century Cathedral.
Like many of the beautiful historic towns you've already seen on your travels, the Romans had a hand in the first civilised settlement. Another formed around a Saxon nunnery, although King Canute - the one that tried to turn back the sea - left that in ruins in 1016. However, Lady Godiva (she of the naked horse ride through the town) and her husband built a small town on the ruins, and by the 14th century, it was an important market town, gaining its charter in 1345.
By Tudor times, Coventry was a site of artistic excellence as well, with prestigious theatres. It's widely thought that the plays Shakespeare saw there during his teens inspired him in his own works. Coventry continued to thrive, becoming a major trading and later manufacturing centre. The first council houses were let to tenants here in 1917, and Coventry's reputation as an industrial base continued to soar.
The town suffered more damage during the war than any other English town other than London, Hull, or Plymouth, and it was selected for destruction primarily because of its almost untouched mediaeval heart. The new town, however, and especially the new St. Michael's Cathedral - consecrated in 1962 with a performance of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem to mark the occasion - show that Coventry is growing and thriving.
km od začátku : 0719
Leicester
Welcome to Leicester, Frantisek, heart of the East Midlands.
Unlike some of your previous stops, a thriving Iron Age settlement was waiting for the Romans to arrive in around AD47. In fact, it was the capital of the local Celtic tribe. With the addition of a forum and a bathhouse in the second century, it would appear that Roman comforts were embraced and adopted enthusiastically.
Like all towns that suffered when the Romans packed up and went home, Leicester's fortunes faded, including invasions from the Saxons, and later, the Vikings. Although still impressive enough to be recorded in the Domesday book as a city, or 'civitas', it soon lost its status, not becoming a legal city again until the 20th century.
More recently, Leicester has been in the spotlight for the discovery and reburial of the remains of Richard III, the last English King to die in battle. His grave was lost, but in 2012, a skeleton was discovered on a dig at a Leicester car park which demanded further investigation. With severe battle injuries, and physical features including curvature of the spine, this man in his early thirties could possibly be Richard. DNA analysis from York line descendants proved that this was the warrior King, and he was reburied in Leicester Cathedral in 2015, in a ceremony including a poem read by actor Benedict Cumberbatch - Richard's third cousin, sixteen times removed!
km od začátku : 0764
Nottingham
Welcome to Nottingham, Frantisek.
Part of the ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia, the area was under the rule of an Anglo-Saxon chieftain; the unfortunately-named Snot. He did, however, give his name to not just the town, but the county.
Nottingham is rightly famous for its beautiful lace, but is even more well-known as home of Robin Hood, and also the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. Part-legend and partly-based in truth, the first mention of him is in the late 14th century poem Piers Plowman by William Langland. Hailed as one of the greatest works of mediaeval literature - alongside the almost contemporary Canterbury Tales - the largely allegorical poem deals with human nature in a surprisingly modern way. With minor uprisings common amongst the nobility in the early mediaeval period, it's probably safe to suggest that Robin Hood might well have been a composite of many nobles in hiding, with or without a band of followers!
With two universities, modern day Nottingham is a thriving student town. Perhaps fittingly, the town also claims to have England's oldest pub, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, which is close to Nottingham Castle. It claims to have been established since 1189, but none of the current building is older than mid-17th century, and neither is there any paperwork to prove the claim. However, it is attached to several caves within Castle Rock, which were originally used as the castle brewhouse and date from its construction in 1068 - this would indicate a hostelry of some kind on the site soon after this date.
It's time you rewarded yourself with a nice cold pint, Frantisek!
km od začátku : 0796
Sherwood Forest
Welcome to Sherwood Forest, Frantisek - the stuff of legend.
It's not often that a place features as strongly in legend as the main characters. In early mediaeval times, Sherwood Forest covered an area as large as a third of modern day central London. Today, the last remnant of that ancient woodland is the Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve, and the Sherwood Forest Trust pride themselves on being modern-day Robin Hoods, protecting the Forest for generations to come.
Historically, the location was a royal hunting forest, and used for the enjoyment not only of English monarchs, but visiting nobles as well. Much of the space was actually open land, but the forest was a valuable source of timber both for shipbuilding and construction on land - both St. Paul's and Lincoln cathedrals made use of Sherwood oak.
And what of Robin Hood? Sadly, a construct of popular folklore - created as an ally and supporter of Richard the Lionheart, Robin is variously a yeoman, a noble, and a true outlaw; early ballad 'Robin Hood and the Monk' (1450) makes him out to be a cheat and a casual murderer - a far more bloodthirsty figure, and no ally of any King. The only thing recognisable from later representations is that the Sheriff is still his sworn enemy!
km od začátku : 0838
Sheffield
A very warm welcome to Sheffield, Frantisek
You were probably expecting a grey and industrial city, but 61% of Sheffield is green space. Known as the 'largest village in England', like Rome - or so the locals will tell you - Sheffield is built on seven hills. Home to two universities, the city is undergoing a very strong revival after a period of economic decline, caused by steelworks closures in the 1980s.
Sheffield also has a strong association with football, laying claim to the world's first football club, Sheffield F.C., in 1857. The city now has two professional teams, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday - the Blades and the Owls respectively. In 1989, Wednesday's ground, Hillsborough, was the site of tragedy, when 96 Liverpool supporters were killed in a stampede and crush during a match.
Sheffield is something of an artistic powerhouse, with the largest theatre complex outside London. Musically, it rivals Manchester and Liverpool for talent, spawning The Human League, Heaven 17, ABC, and Pulp, and the city regularly hosts big name bands at the Sheffield Arena. Community and commercial radio are thriving, and the area also boasts two newspapers, one of which has been in circulation since the end of the 19th century.
Sheffield also provided the backdrop for two moments of 20th century zeitgeist - blown to smithereens in the Cold War classic 'Threads', the city appeared to have recovered fully 13 years later when six unemployed men removed their clothes but regained their dignity in 'The Full Monty'.
km od začátku : 0863
Peak District National Park
Frantisek, you've arrived in the Peak District.
Britain's first national park, the Peak District is not only easily accessible by road and rail, it's one of the few outdoor walking and trail spaces that also has easy access in certain areas for less physically-able walkers, wheelchairs, and other mobility vehicles. Those who'd like to cover the trails by bike won't be disappointed either, and there are even options available for wheelchair users.
Adventurous climbers won't be disappointed by what are some of the finest and most challenging sites in the world. Former mining sites combine with caves to make the Peak District a potholer's paradise.
If you fancy a little sedate sightseeing instead, go and see the magnificent Hardwick Hall. Built for the formidable Bess of Hardwick, this extraordinary Tudor figure was not just a woman that married increasingly well - four times - but along with her husband, the Earl of Shrewsbury, she was both jailer and protector of Mary Queen of Scots for 15 years.
If Bess married well herself, she arranged even better matches for her children - she arranged for one of her daughters to marry into the Lennox family, who had a claim to the throne through Margaret Tudor, sister of Henry VIII. Although Bess' immediate manoeuvring upwards failed, she did get a descendant on the throne eventually through the Dukes of Portland - Queen Elizabeth II.
km od začátku : 0911
Bradford
You have reached Bradford, Frantisek - heartland of the Industrial Revolution, and famous for wool and textile product and export for centuries.
Bradford was a hive of industry in the 19th century, and plentiful employment encouraged widespread immigration, particularly from Ireland, and also a significant German Jewish population. They became not only vital to the textile export industry of the city, but featured large in its civic life, helping to establish the Chamber of Commerce in 1851, and also, in the cases of Charles Semon and Jacob Moser, becoming Mayor and Lord Mayor of Bradford respectively. Unfortunately, all this industrial success came at a price - at the height of this surge in prosperity, the average lifespan of a Bradford textile worker was just 18 years.
Unfortunately, a period of de-industrialisation throughout the 20th century has led to Bradford suffering periods of deprivation, although recent regeneration projects have done much to return Bradford to former glories. Don't forget to visit the City Hall when you're there - it's not unusual to have statues of former monarchs in a town, but Bradford includes Oliver Cromwell in their number!
km od začátku : 0942
Yorkshire Dales National Park
You've reached the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Frantisek, the more rugged relation to the other end of the county.
Each valley - or Dale - is different from the next, and there's no shortage of activities to draw in lovers of the British countryside. If you fancy finding sturdy shoes and waterproofs, the Ingleton Waterfall Trail is worth the effort, although it's not for the faint-hearted or those unsteady on their feet. If you feel you need fortifying beforehand, there's a good cafe at the start, and frequently an ice cream van en route!
For Harry Potter fans - and everyone besides - the Ribblehead Viaduct is a must-see. Construction began in 1870, and construction workers put up shanty towns near the site to house their families. In the five years it took to build, there were smallpox epidemics and myriad industrial accidents which took a considerable toll on the workforce in every sense - around 100 navvies were killed during construction, and there are around 200 graves from this period in the nearby cemetery at Chapel-le-Dale. Now, it carries six passenger trains a day from Leeds to Carlisle.
You're getting closer to the border, Frantisek - keep going!
km od začátku : 1117
Hadrian's Wall
You've made it to Hadrian's Wall, Frantisek - congratulations!
As any proud Scot will tell you, the Romans never made it there. Although there were settlements over the border, and even a few successful spats with Pictish tribes, Scotland never became part of the Roman Empire.
What did worry the Roman outposts in the north of the country, however, was the real possibility that those tribes might successfully take territory back, and repel their armies. Defeat to a Roman general was unthinkable, and construction on Hadrian's Wall began in 122AD, so that the Roman armies based at the far north edge of the territory could control who came in and out of Empire territory.
Every Roman mile (not quite as far as a modern mile), there was a milecastle - a fortified manned post for extra security. With a wall that was fifteen feet high and ten feet thick, getting through was difficult. Unsurprisingly, it was so well built that much of it still stands today.
If you fancied a further challenge, there are many walks and hikes along the 73 miles of wall, and hiking holidays that take in the full distance are a popular break for the keen walker.
km od začátku : 1152
England/Scotland Border
Congratulations, Frantisek, you are at the border of England and Scotland.
Although Hadrian's Wall might have marked the border between Britannia and Caledonia, it lies a long way south of the current country border. Scotland's only land border, the divide now spans the 96 miles from Marshall Meadows to Solway Firth.
The border has been a moveable feast for centuries, and the border lands were long in dispute, changing hands on many occasions. The Treaty, and subsequent Acts of Union in the early 18th century Great Britain - although Scotland retained some separate laws.
With those separate laws came some interesting differences. The age of legal capacity is two years lower in Scotland - 16 rather than 18 - leading to a tradition of young couples eloping to Gretna Green just over the border into Scotland, so that they could marry without their parents' permission.
Prior to 1940, a quirk of Scottish law allowed for a wedding ceremony to be conducted by just about anybody - as long as there are witnesses present, all a couple had to do was agree to be married to each other. The Old Blacksmith's Shop at Gretna Green was a particularly popular place to stop, hence the phrase 'anvil priest' being in common use in the area. One such anvil priest was Richard Rennison, who by the time the law changed in 1940 had performed over 5000 'irregular marriages'.
km od začátku : 1280
Edinburgh Castle
Welcome to Edinburgh Castle, Frantisek. Oh, and by the way - you're standing on top of a volcano.
It's an extinct volcano - Castle Rock was formed around 350 million years ago - but at 130 metres above sea level, there's evidence that it was a prime area for a tribal hill fort from as early as the 2nd century AD.
An archaeological dig in the 1990s showed even earlier occupation, to at least the Iron and possibly even the Bronze age. Even the more recent settlement would make Castle Rock the oldest site in constant occupation in Scotland. Additionally, a few Roman finds would indicate that there was at the very least free trade across Hadrian's Wall, if not any serious Roman settlement.
Central to almost all historical events that changed the course and face of Scotland forever, the Castle is still in full and active use - not only is it one of the few ancient castles in Britain still to have a garrison, but it is also a thriving visitor attraction. Should you happen to visit around lunchtime, listen out for the One O'Clock Gun, which is fired every day exactly on the hour of one, except for Sundays, Christmas Day, and Good Friday.
Part of Edinburgh's World Heritage Site, the Castle achieved the ultimate in modern fame in 2009 - it appeared on the back of the Scottish 10 pound note, issued by Clydesdale Bank.
km od začátku : 1494
Loch Ness
You've made it to Loch Ness Frantisek, Scotland's second largest but deepest loch.
No visit to Loch Ness is complete without a hunt for the famous monster, and boat tours set out regularly from various venues around the lake. There's also a Loch Ness Exhibition at Drumnadrochit, which looks at the nature aspect of the water as well as the folklore surrounding it.
As for Nessie, well, she's been around a while - or at least the legend has. Adomnan's 'Life of St. Columba', written in the 6th century, tells of the Irish monk coming across a burial party on the banks of the River Ness, who tell him that the man was killed by being pulled under the Loch by a 'water beast'. One of Columba's own followers even encounters the monster when swimming across the water, although he escapes unscathed by making the sign of the cross.
In recent years, photographs - unexplained and proven hoaxes, films, and sightings on land combine to keep the mystery alive. Whether or not Nessie exists, the most conclusive evidence that there is - or at least was - something there comes from Robert Rines. A lawyer by profession, over a period of 35 years Rines assembled sonar readings which indicated that not only was it likely that something was there, that 'something' could be plural!
Sadly, toward the end of his life in 2009, Rines concluded that the species had become extinct, perhaps unable to adapt to global warming.
Nearly there, Frantisek, you're doing an amazing job!
km od začátku : 1627
Dunrobin Castle
Welcome to Dunrobin Castle, Frantisek.
Rich in both mediaeval and Jacobite history, the castle itself was probably named after Robert, the 6th Earl of Sutherland, who died in 1427. Mediaeval Scotland was a largely tribal society, and the arch manipulator of the clans was Robert the Bruce, who planted the Gordon family - who were related to the legitimate Sutherland occupiers - in the castle temporarily to further his aims.
The Sutherlands (the Gordons changed their name) were in trouble again in the 18th century, providing unpopular support to the British government during the Jacobite Rebellion rather than to the popular Young Pretender Bonnie Prince Charlie. Escaping literally by the back door, the 17th Earl lived to fight another day and joined the Duke of Cumberland's army.
In more recent times, the Castle has served both as hospital during the First World War, then after restoration from fire damage, as a school for a brief period in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, the Sutherland family still live there, and much of the Castle is open to the public between April and October. See if you can catch one of the falconry displays given in the Castle grounds.
Not far now - one last push!
km od začátku : 1716
Castle Sinclair Girnigoe
Welcome to Castle Sinclair Girnigoe, Frantisek.
This romantic ruin is the only castle in Scotland to be listed by the World Monuments Fund, and is subject to a significant preservation programme, to make sure that future generations can enjoy it.
You will find reference to both Castle Sinclair and Castle Girnigoe on maps, and there would appear to be two ruined castles, separated by a moat. However, a larger moat surrounds the whole site, and there is paperwork evidence to suggest that Fourth Earl of Caithness requested the name-change from Girnigoe to Sinclair in 1606, leading to both names being in common use. Ironically, the castle was said to have been destroyed by cannon fire by a later Sinclair in 1680, to stop it being seized to cover debts, although archaeological evidence would suggest significant occupation by Cromwell's troops, who almost certainly started the demolition themselves.
Archaeological work is ongoing, so it's worth checking in on the tangled history of this enigmatic ruin from time to time, as more evidence is uncovered as to not only its sad end, but its life and use.
One last push, Frantisek - you've almost done it!
km od začátku : 1744
John o' Groats
Congratulations Frantisek, you've done it - here you are at John o' Groats, at the northernmost tip of the Scottish mainland.
Dunnet Head is further north, of course, but there's not much there except for a rather essential lighthouse. With Land's End 876 miles (by highway) to the southwest, together they form the two most extreme inhabited towns on the British mainland.
John o' Groats might sound like a fine Scotsman, but he was actually a Dutch settler - Jan de Groot - who came to the area in around 1489, and ran the ferry from the mainland to Orkney at the end of the 15th century, after the island had been returned to Scotland from Norwegian control in 1472.
Modern day John o' Groats is, of course, something of a draw - in 2005, Lonely Planet described it as a 'seedy tourist trap', and you even needed to pay to have your photograph taken at the famous 'Journey's End' signpost, which has its counterpart in Land's End. Since 2013, the town has undergone considerable refurbishment, the hotel has re-opened, and photographs are now free. There is also still a regular boat service to Orkney, should you wish to extend your journey further.
Frantisek, you've done it - what an achievement. Now put your feet up! - Or better still, sign up for one of our other challenges at www.theconqueror.events
